Unusual Houseplants: Kalanchoe

Most garden centers sell kalanchoe as an annual, and most gardeners treat it as such. I, however, have always grown this plant as a houseplant and have found it quite easy to grow.

Kalanchoe is a succulent grown for its foliage as well as for its brightly-colored flowers. The variety with which you are probably most familiar is K. blossfeldiana, which grows to be 6-12 inches tall. The waxy leaves are dark green and may be edged in red. The flowers bloom in clusters and can be found in a variety of colors; e.g., yellow, orange, red, and a couple of different shades of pink. (Sometimes the pink varieties, being hybrids, will revert back to red.) The blooms will generally last 2-4 months. (Be sure to cut out any spent blooms to encourage re-blooming and a bushier growth.) This kalanchoe normally blooms from late winter through early spring; however, you can force it to bloom at other times of the year by giving it 14 hours of total darkness every day for six weeks. Many gardening books will tell you to discard the plant once it has finished blooming. I just cut mine back and then care for it much like I would any other succulent.

Plant your kalanchoe in 2-parts all-purpose potting soil and 1-part perlite or vermiculite. Place it in bright to direct light. Average to cool temperatures and average humidity will suit it just fine. If you want to kill your kalanchoe, over-water it. Over-watering can quickly cause root-rot, so allow the plant to dry out between waterings. [See: Watering Houseplants: Identifying Problems.] Fertilize every two weeks during its growing seasons. [You might want to read my article on Houseplants: Understanding Fertilizer.] Propagation is extremely easy by using either leaf or stem cuttings. (Allow the cuttings to dry out for a few days before planting.) Your kalanchoe can also benefit from being placed outdoors in bright light to partial shade during the summer months. (Mine will often bloom at this time, too, without any forcing.)

Some other interesting varieties of kalanchoe that make good houseplants:
K. pumila has silvery leaves and pink blooms. You might want to consider using this variety in a hanging basket.

K. tomentosa has large, thick, fuzzy leaves covered with silvery-colored hairs. (The color and texture might remind you of thick lamb's ears.) The hairs on the edges of the leaves are a rusty-brown color, giving the foliage an interesting look. This variety is commonly known as panda plant or pussy ears.

References:

DeWolf, Jr., Gordon, ed. Taylor's Guide to Houseplants. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin, 1987.

Horan, Anne, and Robert G. Mason. Foliage Houseplants. Alexandria, VA: Time-Life Books, 1988.

Scarlet, Kay, pub. The Complete Garden Flower Book. London, England: Murdock Books, 2001.